Is the CMP-HC Worth It?

By Karla Wheeler, MA, CMP-HC
Associate Director of Educational Activities and Continuing Medical Education
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Late last October, I received an email from the Convention Industry Council asking if I would like to be a part of the group beta testing the new healthcare subspecialty certification. The timing wasn't ideal. My organization’s Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) reaccreditation was due in early December, and it was a very busy planning time for our large annual conference. I didn't see how I could have any extra time to devote to studying. However, this was an opportunity I could not pass up.

As soon as I was officially accepted to take the exam, the first action I took was to join a virtual study group. There was a lot of information to cover, and with only five weeks until the exam, I needed help. The study group provided structure and direction, and it kept me accountable, since the rest of the group was dependent on my practice questions and input. The exam has a number of questions containing real-world situations, requiring more than just a reiteration of facts. Writing practice questions was invaluable as it made me look at the material in a different light, similar to how a test writer would. This helped me to read for understanding and not just for factual memorization. The experience with the study group proved to be instrumental in my success with the exam.

The members of my study group came from diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise. This allowed us to effectively address each other’s knowledge gaps. Study group participants were such a valuable resource to me that I would advise anyone signing up for the CMP-HC exam to join a similar group, whether local or virtual. If you are unable to join a study group, then I would encourage you to seek out experienced people at your company, or join an organization and read through message boards. Above all, ask questions.

Outside of the study group, I did my own review of the exam topics with which I felt comfortable in terms of my level of knowledge. I was in the middle of my ACCME reaccreditation, so I scanned the suggested reading regarding the ACCME. I didn't need to spend as much time with it, since I already used this information on a daily basis. I focused the bulk of my time on the study materials with which I was less familiar. In my case, these were PhRMA, CMS and the Open Payments Act. This approach gave me an update on all the subject matter, but it allowed me to concentrate on the content areas where I needed the most work. I was able to go into the exam feeling prepared.

Achieving a higher level of education and industry awareness opens many doors for a career. The CMP-HC designation identifies you as a healthcare professional. The certification reflects a commitment to excellence and demonstrates the CMP-HC designee as someone who is a well-informed partner and resource in the medical meeting planning process.

Was it worth it? Studying was quite a bit of work during a period in which I did not have a lot of time to give, but when I got the email saying, "Congratulations, you were successful in achieving a passing score on the Certified Meeting Professional-Healthcare (CMP-HC) Examination!" it was all worthwhile.

The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is a
program of the Convention Industry Council

Convention Industry Council
700 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA, USA, 22314
Tel: 571-527-3116